Master's International- Agriculture Concentration

Master's International-Peace Corps students who would like a volunteer placement that involves working with farmers and other peasant producers may want to consider taking courses in agriculture. UW faculty in the College of Agriculture teach students in a wide range of disciplines, including community and economic development, farm and ranch management, animal and plant sciences, human nutrition, rangeland ecology, micro and molecular biology, and veterinary medicine.

The curriculum for the concentration in agriculture is intended to give the student a general understanding of the issues facing agrarian-based communities. The focus of the curriculum is on economic development and natural resource management issues. There is some specific training in the principles and business methods of farm and ranch management, however students coming into the graduate program with a strong background in agriculture may choose courses in other areas, e.g. rangeland ecology or plant science. There is a great deal of flexibility based on the student’s interests.

Recommended Core Courses

AGEC 4640 - Advanced Farm and Ranch Management
AECL 4020/5020 - Alternative Agriculture (offered in the Spring)
AGEC 5660 - Community Economic Development

Electives

AGEC 4460 - Agriculture and Economic Development
AGEC 4720 - Water Resource Economics
AGEC 4840 - Agricultural Market Analysis
AGEC 5600 - Community Economic Analysis

Course Descriptions

AECL 4020/5020 - Alternative Agriculture - Emphasis on concepts driving alternative agriculture inlcuding environmental and economic sustainability and land stewardship. Topics include opportunities and limitations of small versus large-scale enterprises, low-input versus conventional systems, integrated pest management, organic farming, wetland and conservation reserve programs. Includes examples of alternative agriculture enterprises, speciality crops, niche markets, and associated strategies. Prerequisites: 8 hours of biology.

AGEC 4460 – Agriculture and Economic Development – Examines the roles of agriculture in the transformation of the economics of underdeveloped countries. Examines development theories, case studies and analytical techniques. Prerequisites: AGEC/ECON 1010, 1020.

AGEC 4640 – Advanced Farm and Ranch Management – Tools of management decision-making applied to problems of farm-ranch management and resource acquisition and use. Prerequisite: AGEC/ECON 1020, AGEC 2020 and MATH 1400.

AGEC 4720 – Water Resource Economics – Presents principles and procedures appropriate to water resource allocation and development decisions. Studies agricultural, recreational, industrial and other uses of water. Prerequisite: ACEC/ECON 1020.

AGEC 4840 - Agricultural Market Analysis - Applies economic theory to an analysis of economic organization and operation of agricultural markets, including price behavior. Prerequisites: MATH 1400 and ECON 3020.

AGEC 5600 - Community Economic Analysis - Analysis of regions and rural communities; their problems, socioeconomic characteristics, land use and economic development. Provides training in regional economic theory, regional economic analysis, fiscal impact analysis and benefit cost analysis. Prerequisite: AGEC/ECON 1010 and 1020.

AGEC 5660 - Community Economic Development - Community development from an interdisciplinary perspective, integrating theory, concepts and methods from sociology, economics, political science, and community development. Students learn how community theory can be used to design and support effective economic development programs. Includes readings, lectures, guest lectures, field trips and community analysis projects. Prerequisite: AGEC/ECON 1020 or SOC 2090 and junior standing.

Prerequisite Courses

AGEC/ECON 1010 – Principles of Macroeconomics

AGEC/ECON 1020 – Principles of Microeconomics

AGEC 2020 – Farm and Ranch Business Management

AGEC 4720 – Water Resource Economics

AGEC 4830 – Agricultural Commodities and Futures Markets

ECON 3010 – Intermediate Macroeconomics

ECON 3020 – Intermediate Microeconomics

MATH 1400 – College Algebra

MATH 2350 – Business Calculus

SOC 2090 – Introduction to Sociological Research

STAT 2050 – Fundamentals of Statistics